Why ‘Stop The Express’?
I chose the site name of ‘Stop The Express!’, as it captured what I felt was the feeling I had when I have played the current generation of games. I felt like I was not in control and helpless against the onslaught of in-game purchases, easy options, first person shooter ultra-violence, more movie than game scenarios. I wanted to get off the ‘express train to Blandsville’ and revisit some of the more interesting ‘resorts’ of my past gaming experiences.
Retro Systems!
After receiving what was my first-ever console as a Xmas present in 2014 – the awesome Binatone TV Master MkIV nonetheless – it reminded me of how games were back then… simpler and more addictive!
From the Binatone, I progressed onto the ZX Spectrum, Atari 2600, Commodore 64, Atari 800XL… the list increases regularly. Aside from gaming I also look at renovating these beasts, from performing replacement capacitor work to making new parts, such as paddles and game selector nubbins for the Binatone.
My interest increased in retro systems once I got a Binatone TV Master MkIV for Xmas in 2014. It set me off collecting all of my old gaming systems, starting with a ZX Spectrum, then an Atari VCS (2600), followed by a Commodore 64 and now an Atari 800XL.
Modding and Fixing
I’ve found several great pieces of kit to bring these 1980s beasts into the 21st Century. I’ve also looked at fixing controllers as I often find them as a bulk buy on the likes of Ebay and can never resist a challenge to make them good as new! I’ve also modified them to output composite video where we originally relied on good old direct plugging into the TV aerial socket via the modulator units!
I’ll document what I do on here, so you can see how I progress and also maybe take some ideas away to make your own ‘fixes’ for your own kit/setup.